Get Involved
One of the most valuable benefits of membership with PACDC is the opportunity to meaningfully connect with peers. PACDC convenes member organizations through a variety of programming offerings, events, and workshops, but one of the most popular ways for members to engage with other organizations and peers is through our committees and peer groups. Please take a moment to review the groups below, and let us know which you might be interested in getting involved with!
Open PACDC Member Committees & Peer Groups:
These committees are open for any staff/volunteer of a PACDC member organization to join. Please use the form below to indicate your interest!
Commercial Corridor Working Group
If you or your organization engage in commercial corridor management and/or neighborhood-based economic development work, consider joining this working group. The Commercial Corridor Working Group meets monthly to share ideas, discuss common challenges and opportunities, tour different commercial corridors around the city, and guide PACDC’s advocacy in this area. PACDC also works closely with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce and LISC Philadelphia, which both regularly attend these meetings. The group is coordinated by PACDC’s Director of Training & Technical Assistance, Joanna Winchester (jwinchester@pacdc.org), with guidance from a steering committee (see below).
Meeting Frequency: Monthly
Meeting Format: Alternates virtual and in-person
Communications Peer Group
Designed for any member organization staff who manage communications (website, social media, blogging, press releases, messaging, graphics/design, etc.), this group meets intermittently, typically via Zoom, to share ideas and discuss approaches and best practices, as well as supporting each other’s communications efforts. The group is coordinated by PACDC’s Communications & Events Coordinator, Alex Millard (amillard@pacdc.org).
Meeting Frequency: Varies
Meeting Format: Virtual
Housing Committee
Join this committee if you or your staff work on housing development, preservation/home repair, housing counseling, or similar work. This group meets via Zoom to discuss key issues and challenges and hear from subject area experts and guest speakers. Members inform and guide PACDC’s policy and advocacy on housing, and we need your input and participation! The Housing Committee is coordinated by PACDC’s Policy Director, Andy Toy (atoy@pacdc.org).
Meeting Frequency: Bi-Monthly
Meeting Format: Virtual
Housing Counselors Peer Group
PACDC’s new Housing Counselors Peer Group is a professional community of practice for client-facing housing counselors throughout Philadelphia. The group will provide a space for housing counselors to share their challenges, practice self-care, build community across agencies, and engage in skill-building, training, and study groups (including preparation for HUD certification exams). This peer group and range of supportive resources was envisioned through collaborative engagement between PACDC and the Housing Counselor Action Committee convened by the Affordable Housing Centers of PA. The group is coordinated by PACDC’s Director of Membership Engagement & Programming, Jeanna Murat (jmurat@pacdc.org), with guidance from a steering committee (see below).
Meeting Frequency: TBD
Meeting Format: TBD
Selected PACDC Committees/Leadership Opportunities:
These PACDC member working committees are smaller in size and selected by application and/or invitation. They require active participation and collaboration.
Equitable Development Conference Planning Committee
PACDC’s annual Equitable Development Conference is a multi-day conference attended by more than 300 members of the community development sector. Our Planning Committee offers insight and support on potential keynote speakers, plenary panels, workshops, field trips, and more. The group is convened by PACDC’s Director of Membership Engagement and Programming, Jeanna Murat (jmurat@pacdc.org).
Anticipated Time Commitment: 10-20 hours per year
Meeting Frequency: Roughly 4-6 meetings per year, between April/May – October
Responsibilities: Participate in (roughly 4-6) planning meetings as scheduled, provide input/ideas and, where possible, connect PACDC staff with potential speakers/trainers/vendors/etc. to support the conference’s success.
CDC Capacity Building Advisory Committee
PACDC’s range of capacity building services includes workshops, trainings, cohort-based programs, direct one-on-one organizational assistance/advising, and much more. We regularly review and reassess what is included in our training and technical assistance resources offered to members, and are always striving to improve and deepen our role as a capacity builder within Philadelphia’s community and economic development industry. Input from members and partners is invaluable to our ongoing evaluation and planning. We convene a CDC Capacity Building Advisory Committee made up of representatives from member organizations, key partners, and subject area experts twice a year to provide ideas, input, and feedback.
Anticipated Time Commitment: 5-10 hours per year
Meeting Frequency: Twice per year
Responsibilities: Provide input and ideas to strengthen and guide PACDC’s suite of member capacity building services and trainings/workshops. Consider needs of Philadelphia’s community and economic development sector, and help position PACDC to play a strategic role in field building.
Commercial Corridor Working Group Steering Committee
This small group of commercial corridor managers and partners will serve as a steering committee to help lead PACDC’s Commercial Corridor Working Group.
Anticipated Time Commitment: 2 hours/month
Meeting Frequency: Quarterly
Responsibilities: Provide input and direction for PACDC’s Commercial Corridor Working Group, including identifying potential key topics and guest speakers, considering requests to present from external partners, and prioritizing sites for in-person corridor tours. Support corridor-related advocacy efforts. Provide feedback to PACDC on frequency of outreach and role/activities of Commercial Corridor Working Group.